Spotlight

When he lost her, he was left with no choice. Life was impossible in Crawley without her. He couldn’t live with all of the memories or her ghost.

He vowed to never return again.

It was business that brought him back and the chance to right a wrong, but then she needed him; his best friend’s little sister. Her life and her child’s were in danger. It was an arrangement until it became more.

He vowed to never love again; to never allow the past a chance to repeat itself, but sometimes you’re left with no choice.

When the walls around your heart are finally breached, do you run and save yourself or stay and fight for the chance to love again?

When you lose your way, how do you find the way home?

Excerpt

Her face had been radiant as she pointed out the constellations. In her excitement, she’d stumbled, dragging my attention away from Orion’s Belt and back to her. I’d only looked away because she’d insisted. I’d much rather have looked at her. I’d gripped her close. Both of us laughing. I could still recall the expression on her face. Her smile had shined brighter than any star I had ever seen.

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No matter what people tell you, words and ideas can change the world.
​~ Robin Williams ~

Disconnection is a very serious issue for dragons that can leave them stuck in one form or another, but it’s a condition that usually comes on slowly and rarely catches anyone by surprise. No one knows this better the Kara Rose, Eternity’s leading specialist in the treatment of this condition. So when the head of Eternity demands her presence for an emergency, she can’t imagine what he could want. She is, after all, only a therapist.

As a top mage with Eternity, Noah Dove has worked with dragons for most of his life, so he is used to their odd quirks and physical needs. When a dark beauty shows up to disrupt the king’s celebrations, he agrees to go with her to keep the peace. When Noah is unable to protect the woman from the group killing dragons, he’s left with her last request—to save her dragon. It would normally be an impossible task, but with a bit of magic and some help from the dragon, Noah forms the one thing that can transfer a dragon from one person to another—a Heart Stone.

Now the dragon is loose and out of control… and the only person who can help is Kara. With Noah’s consciousness locked away beyond her reach, she must somehow find a way to soothe the dragon and connect two halves that were never a whole. The task is daunting and will push her knowledge—and personal boundaries—to their limit and beyond.

Excerpt

A tiny spark of hope glimmered in the despair that was setting in. “Come on, lover,” he coaxed, trying to get her to wake.

A groan of pain came out as she moved.

“Be still, lover,” Noah soothed as he pressed on the wound. He whispered the one healing spell he knew. It slowed the bleeding, but it wasn’t nearly strong enough to repair the damage.

Raven let out a pained laugh as she reached up and covered his hand. “Nothing you can do can fix this, lover.”

“I can try, damn it!” Noah concentrated on the wound and willed it to heal. He was a powerful mage who could pick apart trap spells and hurl fire bolts all day long, but healing was not his forte. Knitting together flesh was one thing, but this wound went clear to her heart. The fact that she wasn’t dead already spoke volumes of her strength of will.

“Noah.”

The use of his name drew his attention from his work, and he looked up into her dark eyes. In the entire time he had been there, it was the first time his name had graced her lips.

She smiled at him. “Thank you.”

“No!” Noah turned his attention back to the wound and pressed on it harder, determined to save her. There was no way he was going to let her die on him. He could feel the spell that bound them together. It was still strong. If she were truly dying, that bond would be weakening. She gasped in pain as he worked, but he could feel her life slipping away under his fingers.

Reaching up, she touched his cheek, turning his face to look at her. The distant look in her eyes drove shards of ice deep into Noah’s heart. “I love you,” she whispered as she stroked his skin. “Save the dragon.” Drawing in one final breath, she shuddered as the life drained from her.

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​The world as we know it is gone.There are no more countries, states, or cities. No more traditional government...only survivors who have created a new world made up of small colonies.

It has been thirteen years since thelast World War and the village of Lia Fail sits peacefully above theHollywood Reservoir in the Santa Monica Mountains. The settlement ismaking ready to host the fall Gathering. A time to remember the past aswell as discover new loves, old friends, family, and fun, but just as thefestivities begin, the people in Lia Fail begin to experience strange goingson they can't explain. Unseen forces attack several guests and friendsbegin to distrust friends. When they receive news of a horrificmassacre, they realize they must face an impending dark evil thatthreatens to destroy the tranquil village.

Alia Stark, the queen of Lia Fail, must face this malevolentforce alongside her oldest and dearest friends. The fate of herpeople, the lives of her children and freedom itself rests in her hands.Will she have the courage to do what must be done... and at what price?

This is the beginning of a journey that will change all of theirlives forever.

The Gathering: Book One of the Lia Fail Chronicles isthe first in a new Paranormal, Fantasy, and Adventure Series.

This book contains violence and sexual situationsand is intended for a mature audience.

Excerpt

​Alisha stood in the darkness, leaning against the balcony wrapped only in a blanket exposing her head, shoulders and back to a cool autumn breeze, which gently moved her long auburn hair across her skin. She looked out over the vastness of the valley and listened to the wind move through the trees in the forest below. Vance was sitting up in bed, watching her. He eventually got out of bed, pulled on his jeans and walked outside, the cool tile felt smooth against his feet.
He slipped his arms around her waist and she leaned back against him. He kissed the side of her face.
"Can't sleep?"
She shook her head.
"Weird dreams."
"Like what?" He asked.
Alisha shrugged and smiled.
"It's nothing. I'm sure it's just all the stress from planning the hand-fasting and all the strange things that have been going on."
Vance made Alisha turn and look at him.
"Talk to me."
Alisha lowered her head and turned back around and leaned against the balcony railing. She smiled at how well he knew her and then she frowned as she recalled the dreams.
"I keep dreaming of these men. They're an army and they all wear black and one of them has a long scar down his face. He's a leader, but he's not in charge. He rides with another one, who has more power than he does. That one has eyes that make my blood freeze; they're this horrible blue color, like blue ice. Then there's this other one who is really tall, but he doesn't have a face, just a shape, like death. I think he's the real leader. And every time I dream about them, I see falcons… falcons everywhere. And I see… "
Alisha shook her head and Vance lifted her face up towards his.
"What, Baby? What do you see?"
A tear ran down Alisha's face.
"I see them killing people, but not just killing them. They torture them… it’s horrible.” Vance wrapped his arms around her and held her close.
“They're just dreams, Lish. Just dreams."
Alisha wrapped her arms tightly around him. She knew in her heart that the dreams were a warning. She hadn't told him everything she had seen. There was no point. She pulled back and moved her hands to his face. He smiled at her and she pulled his mouth to hers and let her lips close around his. His hands moved to her face and he held her head, letting the blanket fall. Alisha was unsure as to whether her goose bumps were being caused by the cool night air or the touch of Vance's hands against her back and the inside of her thigh.
He reached down the back of her legs, to her knees and lifted her up against his body. She wrapped her arms around his neck and he walked them back into the room and laid her on the bed. Alisha soon forgot about the nightmares, as Vance made her shudder again and again.
Once again they slept, and on the balcony a raven watched the night sky, as if guarding the sleeping couple. It stayed all night.

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The things that we love tell us what we are.
​~ Thomas Aquinas ~

Spotlight

​At only 23 years old, Ellora’s life is turned upside down. She captures the unwanted attention of a dangerously ruthless man who’ll stop at nothing until he possesses her. Haunted by nightmares of the brutal attack she barely survived, Ellora flees the country desperate to hide. But the longer she runs the deeper his obsession grows.

Behr is a hard working bachelor who’s life is stuck on repeat. That is until a beautiful stranger stumbles into the local pub and into his heart. Even though he is immediately drawn to her raven black hair and deep green eyes, he knows she’s hiding a secret. One he’s determined to uncover.

Can Ellora stay safe in this small harbor town?Or has the twisted game of cat and mouse just begun?

Excerpt

​Ellora raced down the hallway as fast as her legs could carry her. Dread gripped her when she heard his heavy footsteps pounding on the hardwood floors behind her. His powerful presence echoed around the eerily empty house. It didn’t matter how fast she ran; he was always right on her heels.

Her body quaked violently when she made it to the stairs. If she couldn’t make it out of there, she’d never survive. Reaching out, Ellora gripped the railing with both hands and used the leverage to fly down the steps. He thundered down after her. The smell of his rancid panting breath snaked its way over her shoulder. The stench stung her nose. Ellora risked looking back, finding his large black eyes, vicious with a murderous rage zeroing in on his prey. He was close enough to grab her.

Her heart hammered inside her chest painfully as it worked hard to push her broken body to its limits. Her ears throbbed as he screamed out her name.

Oh my God, this is it. He reached out… And…

Ellora shot upright in her bed, crying out. Her weary body trembled violently as the all too real images continued to torment her. She swiped at her tear-stained cheeks with week hands.

Unspeakable memories played out in her mind, gripping the sheets tighter, Ellora curled up into a ball and sobbed. After what felt like an hour, the emotionally wrecked girl stumbled out of bed on shaky legs.

“I might as well stay up,” she mumbled to herself.

There was no point in trying to go back to sleep with her heart still pounding the way it was. She sauntered over to her large opened window, glancing out at the breathtaking view along the harbor. Ellora watched as the sun came up casting pink hues through her pale yellow curtains.

The rising sun, a bright burnt orange, looked as though it was climbing right out of the sea. The frothy waves gently rolled to shore, still cold looking from the long winter months. The peaceful rhythmic motions calmed her erratic heart.

Ellora tore her eyes away from the dark blue waters, seeing movement out of the corner of her eye, glancing down at the large man walking out of the pub one floor below. It was Behr.

He stopped mid-stride on the sidewalk, deep in thought. After a few moments, he turned and looked up at her window. He seemed shocked at first, seeing her looking down on him. Behr’s eyes warmed over as he took her in.

Lifting his hand in greeting, the large man winked flirtatiously. Ellora felt brave enough to openly stare at him from the safety of the second story window. Whether she wanted to admit it to herself or not, Behr was a magnificent man to look at.

What was she going to do with this intriguing man who’d barged into her life? She couldn’t wait to find out.

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﻿Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.
​~ Buddha ~

Spotlight

​Bridgeton Pass Farm runs on the shear muscle and dedication of its employees. And like the cowboys that run it, the race horse farm is rugged and powerful. Having been in the Becker family for generations, the farm is currently run by William Becker and his sons. When trouble begins to plague the family business the men of Bridgeton Pass Farm and their employees pull together and prove their passion for their work is as strong as their passion for love and life.

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Whoever is happy will make others happy too.​~ Anne Frank ~

Spotlight

“I will always be there for you, Mady, always.”

One month later, I was slammed with the realization that there were some things you just can’t count on being true.

College sophomore, Madelyne Stewart, has it all—a wonderful home, a close-knit family, and great friends. But when tragedy strikes, it flips her world upside down. She struggles to deal with the chaos of her crumbling life.

On the brink of failing her classes, Mady reluctantly agrees to study with a tutor. Max Granger drifts into her life like a breath of fresh air. Not only is he intelligent and an excellent tutor, he’s funny, laid-back, and has the amazing ability to soothe her troubled soul. His striking looks top off a complete package any woman—Mady included—would want. Except, she isn’t looking to add anything else to her broken plate.

Can Mady find a way to make it though her pain and see what is in front of her? Will she take chance on Max? Or will the pieces of her heart be too broken to mend?

Excerpt

When I next looked at my phone, two hours had passed. I put my pen down stretched, arching my back and reaching my arma back over the chair. I looked over abs noticed Max was watching me intently. "What?" I asked, embarrassed. He clearned his throat. "NOthing, sorry."I took a quick drink from my water bottle, and again, I caught Max watching me. "Why do you keep looking at me? Do you want some water or something?" I asked, holding the bottle towards him. He licked his lips, and my eyes zoned in to them. Wow, they really were something - sensual and just a shade darker than his toffee skin. H was quite the sight. I shook my head as he grabbed the bottle from me and took a swig.

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Due to Technical Difficulties, there is no LIST today. Our sincerest apologies to anyone who was looking for it. Please anjoy checking the Daily Spotlight, and look for extra books each day for next week's LISTS! Have a great weekend!

‘If Love Were All, Bitter Sweet’ is sectioned into three parts; Bitter, Sweet, and Bittersweet. Each section is dedicated to chronicling the respective relationships triumphs and failures of characters appearing in the Night Boys series.

Beginning in 1954 with ‘Angel of The North’ telling the story of Francis Tenn’s parents, ending with a 2015 interview with Simon Thorsby, ‘If Love Were All, Bitter Sweet’ covers the breadth of the series from the many perspectives of its characters.

Foreword by Andrea Staum

Bitter:

Angel of the North:Father Francis Hadrian has found himself at a crossroads. He has a lover expecting a child, but a duty to his church although he feels an utter fraud. How can a priest, questioning his faith, and having broken his vows lead his congregation? Does he even want to anymore? The biggest question, however, is whether the Church will let him go.

Two Imaginary Boys:In 1974, Malachy is living a hand to mouth existence with his boyfriend Mekos. They’re both runaways, trying to make their way in the world. Malachy has to choose between making a better life for himself or staying with Mekos in love and poverty.

Bet She’s Not Your Girlfriend:Francis Tenn writes a eulogy for Danni, one of his former girlfriends, as he tries to understand the demons that drove her.

Disappointed:A man in the future watches his greatest mistake in his past play out on a YouTube video.

Sweet:

Soul Love:Francis Tenn and Simon Thorsby have a special night of romance ahead of them. Will everything go as planned?

Take a Chance:From the pages of the journal of Styles Peterson, Styles tells of the night he fell in love.

The Survivors:When Francis Tenn’s childhood friend, Martin Claddic passes away, he finds himself thinking of the past and how without Martin, Francis would never have become friends with Simon.

Forever in Love (An Open Letter to the Love of My Life on His 57th Birthday):Blake ‘DJ Confusion’ Hannigan-Sixsmithe writes a love letter to Kitto Sixsmithe, his lover and his best friend, on his birthday.

Let Me Kiss You:Malachy and Mekos reunite in this story set 34 years after Two Imaginary Boys. Will their reunion be long lasting?

Be My Wife:Simon’s birthday is not going as well as he would like. The only bright spot is his granddaughter Simone and a marriage proposal from his partner O. This brings on memories of another time when Simon proposed marriage to his best friend, Miranda Saunders.

Bittersweet:

Some Distant Memory:Told in his comfortable Scouse dialect, Kitto recounts a night of pain, and fear, which ends in his salvation in the arms of his lover Rosolio.

The Nightfall of Rage:Malachy is going away, but before he does he pays a visit to a very important man, Ronnie Kray, in Broadmoor Hospital.

Thursday:Christmas is on Thursday but neither Francis nor Christy is quite prepared for the drama happening all around them.

Francis is happily single and playing around. His new lover Lee has other plans however. But can Lee truly love Francis if he knew the truth?

Christy is spending Christmas in the home of his younger sister, Sherry Shaughn-Cooper. Usually, these visits are quality time with loved ones and no trouble. Today he and Sherry face a problem neither can fix easy, and it is breaking their hearts.

Wishful Beginnings:In an interview from late December, Simon Thorsby talks about how his life is now, and where he stands on his love of Francis, his love of David Bowie, and why he made the choices he had in the past. ​

Excerpt

From one of If Love Were All, Bitter Sweet's short stories, 'Disappointed'

July 2009London

The man stuck his head out of his study into the hallway. The lock had clicked on the front door of his Holland Park home. His soon to be ex-wife was leaving for the night. A sensation of great relief washed over him. It always did when she would leave the house. For whatever reasons she left, he no longer wondered nor cared. He was simply happy she was gone. It was as if oxygen returned to the air. The tension of the house evaporated with her away. He knew however, it was temporary and she would be back. She hadn’t packed her bags, of course neither had he. Unable to come to an agreement as to who should keep the home, the two shared the house for the time being.

He closed the door to his study and locked it. He locked himself in so she could not sneak up behind him, so she wouldn’t suddenly appear at his side to destroy his peace of mind. Her histrionic behaviour; the accusations, the paranoid fears, the anger inside her had grown worse over the years. The palpable resentment she displayed, as their marriage-which had been a sham they both agreed to beforehand-failed to deliver the result she wanted, chiselled bit by bit a gap as wide as the Channel between the former couple. That failure, though it had nothing to do with him, she nonetheless placed it squarely on his broad shoulders. Yet she would not leave him in spite of it. Realistically, she couldn’t afford to and they both knew this.

The couple, married for nearly twenty years, had been until recently locked in a struggle over the deteriorating state of their marriage. He regretted his choice as the years began to tick by yearning to be free of the lies of his public life, and lie of the public marriage. However, he had been afraid up to that point for the truth to be revealed and that was where she came in. She could destroy the façade with the right phone call to the right people, but if she did she would lose the financial safety of having a wealthy professional athlete husband with endorsements rolling in. Having only a modest income herself, giving up the wealthy lifestyle she enjoyed because of him-no matter if there was no love- undoubtedly proved more easily said than done for her. Eventually, the struggle had to end it was clear. Now it was simply a matter of how much it would cost.

A cost he would ultimately agree upon as he felt lucky to get out alive.

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Tears of joy are like the summer rain drops pierced by sunbeams.
​~ Hosea Ballou ~

Spotlight

Porter McGavin spends his nights lost in shattered memories of blood, sand, and ammunitions, and his days struggling to hold together the tattered shreds of his life. The combat veteran is barely surviving his battle scars when he's offered a chance to once again have a future with purpose as a member of the Brotherhood of Guardians, an ancient group of warriors sworn to protect the mortal descendants of Muses. No more struggling to get by, no more fighting to fit in, Porter readily accepts a new way of life. But when he's thrust into the role of Claire Montgomery's Watcher, shadows from his past threaten to plunge them both into darkness.

Claire can’t shake the mistrust she holds for the Guardians. Too many were responsible for the years she lived in confinement and forced isolation. When new threats arise, she knows she needs protection, but will she be able to accept any Watcher, let alone one as damaged as Porter?

Forced to confront the secrets haunting them both, can they learn to trust each other before the Guardians fall?

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My mind's my kingdom.
​~ Francis Quarles ~

Spotlight

~ ON SALE July 4-8! ~

​Sixteen-year-old Elizabeth Winters may be a witch, but she doesn’t know the first thing about magic—unless you count accidental bouts of spontaneous combustion. Elizabeth’s father, a wizard himself, has forbidden the use of her powers for her own protection, but when accusations of witchcraft start flying through Salem Village, she wishes she was more prepared.

Despite her lack of magical knowledge, Elizabeth appoints herself to save innocent women from the demise the village has in store for them. Elizabeth finds, however, that she is not the hero Salem needs her to be.

She meant to save them. She cursed them instead.

Excerpt

﻿
Salem, Massachusetts
1692

I shiver as my bare feet hit the wood floor. It is too early to be awake. It is always too early. An incessant throbbing behind my eyes tells me I ought to be back in bed.
“Elizabeth, are you ready?” Mother calls from the kitchen.
“Yes, I’ll be right there,” I lie. With a tired shuffle I make my way to the large chest at the foot of my bed and pull out the first dress I see. It doesn’t matter much when my choices are the black dress, the dark black dress, or the other black dress. Shall I wear the one with the hole, the one with two holes, or the one the mouse chewed through?
“Elizabeth! We are going to be late, we need to leave.”
“Just a moment,” I say.
After exchanging my white nightdress for the dark black dress that the mouse chewed through, I tie a white apron around my waist, attempting to hide the hole. Before walking out the door I realize my cap is missing.
With a sigh, I pin my hair back before covering it with the white cap, a symbol of my purity. I now look like every other girl in Salem village, just how it should be. It seems a shame to let my curls go to waste and I can’t help but pull a few forward.

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Thinking: the talking of the soul with itself.
​~ Plato ~

Spotlight

﻿

​Molly was an average girl, until she discovered the supernatural world. In this world you will meet so many creatures, ranging from a demon to a cupid all the way to a goddess and so much more. Molly is the creator, but she is human; will she be defeated by her enemies or will she rise above and take full control of her world. Will she find friendship and love? Will she be her own hero? Or will she crumble in defeat? Find out in the supernatural world.

Excerpt

I watched in fascination as Fairies flew in the air, and Werewolves and Shape shifters ran through the forest and in the background there was an ocean like area where Mermaid tails splashed everywhere.

I saw a dark place near the edge and I assumed that’s where the Demons and Vamps hid to separate themselves from all the colorful happy creatures.

All in all, this entire place was so amazingly beautiful. All the colors everywhere you looked. All the creatures I thought were just in my dreams were now here, right in front of me. This was amazing.

“Ok you can stop gawking look around later; let’s get you inside,” he smirked. I rolled my eyes and followed him towards the school building.

But if I only knew this was the beginning to a long year and possibly the rest of my life.

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To give me an excuse to check amazon daily for freebies, sales, new releases, and pre-orders, I've started this list. It makes me feel a little less like a crazy person knowing I can share my addiction with other book hoarders. -Jude